Vibrating device



Aug. 22, 1950 o. E. MAs'oN VIBRATING DEVICE Filed 001;. 21, 1949 'IHIIII ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vmmrrmo DEVICE Donald E. Mason, Greensboro, N. 0.7 Application October 21, 194 9, SerialNo. 122,711 3 Claims. (01. Tl-87 This invention relates to vibrating devices of general application, such as for use with plate or bench molds for obtaining a clean separation of the match plate from the sand, for attachment to the discharge spouts of storage bins for producing a continuous and uniform flow of powdered or granular material, for use therapeutically as a massaging implement, and for various other purposes. More especially the vibrating device of the invention is of the general type in which a ball travels around a raceway within a closed housing under the propulsion of a jet fluid, such as air, water or other gas or liquid, as exemplified by Patent No. 1,082,285 of Clarence A. Peterson, dated December 23, 1913.

An important object of my invention is to provide in avibrating device of the above character a brake for normally holding the ball against movement but being automatically releasable upon pressure being admitted to the housing to allow the ball to roll around the raceway under the action of the admitted fluid.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a vibrating device of the above character a domeshaped ball supporting platform for insuring improved rolling contact of the ball along the raceway.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view schematically showing a vibrating device attached to a match plate;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical cross-section through the vibrating device of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the vibrating device viewed on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the vibrating device with its cover removed.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing is shown a match plate M having a vibrating device V attached to the plate thereof to impart a shaking motion to the match plate in accordance with common practice in the metal founding art.

The vibrating device V comprises a cup-shaped housing I having a side wall la of cylindrical inner circumference and a closed bottom lb. The housing is closed at its upper end by a removable fiat cover plate 2 secured to the housing by screws 3.

Inside the housing is a platform 4 of circular outline and of such a diameter as to slidably fit within the interior of the housing. The platform is centrally apertured to encircle a post 5, the

post being drive-fitted within a recess in the bottom of the housing and extending upwardly therefrom with its upper end loosely received within a socket 6 formed in the cover. The plat form 4 is free to slide up and down upon the post and is urged in an upward direction-that ially extended in the form of a cylindrical collar 4c projecting above the dome and providing additional bearing surface along the post 5. A rubber gasket 9 overlies the flat portion 4a. of the platform.

Thespace within the housing I between the dome-shaped portion 4b of the platform and sidewall la defines a circular raceway for a metal ball H] which is of such diameter as to engage the dome and sidewall and be held suspended above the fiat portion Ia of the platform, as best shown in- Fig. 2. The spring 7, which is under a slight compression, urges the platform upwardly and with it the ball In so as to clamp the ball between the raceway and the fiat cover plate 2. The platform thus serves as a brake for holding the ball against movement.

A port II is provided in the sidewall of the housing directed generally tangential to the raceway for delivering a jet of air inside the housing and this port communicates with a tube l2 threaded into the housing and leading from a source of air pressure (not shown). For exhausting air from the housing there is a series of outlet openings l3 through the wall of the housing located in circumferential alignment at an elevation below the port II. These outlets when the platform is in its elevated position are closed by the peripheral edge of the platform, as shown in Fig. 2. A small bleeder hole I4 is provided in the platform to vent the pressure from above the platform to the outlets l3.

The operation of the vibrating device just described is as follows: With the vibrating device in its inoperative or at rest position, the platform 4 under the thrust of the coil spring 1 holds the ball I!) braked against the cover 2 of the housing. Upon admission of air under pressure to the inside of the housing through the port H (which can be accomplished by turning a suitable valve in the air line that includes the tube 12) pressure builds up within the housing forcing the platform 4 downwardly against the spring 1 to uncover the outlet openings l3 and to release the ball Ill. The jet of air issuing from port I I drives the ball around the raceway at high speed and escapes through outlets l3. This unbalancing force about the central axis of the housing imparts vibrations to the housing and to the match plate to which it is attached.

The ball is tipped against the sidewall la of the housing by the dome-shaped portion of the platform, and in its travel around the circular raceway the ball makes line contact with'the dome and with the sidewall. When it is desired, to stop the operation of the vibrating device the air current is cut oif; the air prssurin the housing immediately falls allowing the coil spring to raise the platform to close the outlet openings l3 and clamp the ball i 0. against the cover.

Thus, no time is lost in bringing the vibrating of larger size will be required. "Such balls' emayreadily be substituted by releasing the screws 3 and removing the cover'z of the housing.

While the vibrating device has been describedas operating by air pressure, other fluids; such as water, may be employed when neces'sary or desirable, a suitable ofitake for the water from the device being provided. When Water is used as the propelling medium, a pump, for generating the proper pressure will ordinarily be included in the supply line l2.

It may also be found desirable torprovide-a liner within the interior of the housing to protect the side wall la from wear. Such changes as these, as Well as others that will" readily occurto those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, are to be understood as falling within the purview of this invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a vibrating device of the class comprising a housing having an enclosing wall a port opening through said wall and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid pressure for delivering a jet of fluid non-radially into the housing and a ball rotatable within the housing under the influence of said jet for imparting vibrations to said housing, the combination of a platform snugly fitting the interior of the housing and positioned at one side of the port, an outlet for fluid through the wall of the. housing adapted to be. closed by the platfornrin one position of the platform and a spring for urging said platform tov outlet-closing position and for clamping the ball against the interior of the housing.

2. In a vibrating device of the class comprising a housing having a cylindrical sidewall and a removable cover, a port opening through said wall and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid pressure for delivering a jet of fluid nonrad'ially into the housing and a ball rotatable within the housing nde e nfluence i sai let, the co binati n or a c r lar Pla form 5 1 .5: 1v fitting the n e o 'o t e hous ng and D951- tioned at one s e o h p a outle r flu d h u h th s e all adapted to be closed y he platform in one of its positions and to uncover the, outlet in another of its positions to aif ord a t n'uous'flow o flu d r m the h u in nd a p or in a pl tfor t jeu e esine position and for clamping the ball against the cover.

3. in a vibrating device of the class comprising a housing having a enclos g Wall and a re? movable cover, a port opening through said wall and adapted to be connected to. a sourceof fluid p essur fo d live ng a j t of lu d nonirediellv t t us n an a b ll rotata le w t in. the housing u de t in ue saidi t. e' iombination of a circular platform snugly f tting the interior of thehousin and positi ne t o e ide of theport, an outlet for fluid through the sidewall adapted to be clOSfiil by the platform'in one ofits positions and to uncover the outlet in another of its positions to afiord a Continuous now of uid f om t e h us an a s r n 'f' ge ings'aid platform to outletclosing-pQsition and for clamping the ball against the"cover;" said pl orm havin a dome-shaped cent l portio for supporting'the ball and a flatmarginal 1 tion.

ALD E- No ref r n s. i ed- 

